Is church attendance required or even essential?

[wingnut-]

Wingnut, I am talking about churches.   I said that I have never, ever in 30 + years of being a Christian ever heard anyone teach that if you don't go to church, you are sinning.   There may be individuals who believe that, but the ONLY organizations who make attendance mandatory and make salvation conditional on attendance are cults who try to control people.

 

 

I agree with you shiloh, nor have I ever heard that preached.  However, considering there are those who believe this, where do you suppose that comes from?  It certainly doesn't come from scripture.

[ayin jade]

Jade,

 

My hometown is the headquarters for the Assemblies of God and around here, you have to sign a card that promises you will tithe.  They keep records and if you stop giving for a couple or three weeks, you will be counseled by a church leader on your lack of giving and you can be dis-fellowshipped from that church  if you refuse to give.  

 

That's unless something has changed that I don't  know about...

 

Perhaps the Messianic ones are different then. They are affiliated though with AoG, which supports them since the Messianic ones in az at least tend to be small. Or maybe AoG in az doesnt push that view. I do not attend regular AoG churches so I dont know.

[Guest shiloh357]

Hey Wingnut,

 

I think it comes from a form of legalism and the desire to control. 

[Marilyn C]

Sorry Marilyn, but I don't see any Churches in the US that are mainstream that are as you describe.   I have never heard anyone say that if you don't go to church you are sinning...    You are missing out on a blessing, but you are not sinning.   I think there are a lot of over-the-top blanket accusations that are extremely embellished and projected on churches.

Hi Shiloh,

 

If you take another look at my post I am referring to attitudes & conversations, & that is by individuals. And as wingnut said that attitude has been voiced here already. I was bringing attention to it so that we can see who (the enemy) is getting us to think in a certain way. And then for us to look at what God`s word says so we can focus on the encouraging & not divisiveness.

 

Marilyn.

[Guest Butero]

I am happy to hear that not all churches are like the ones I described, but in most churches I have been part of, they require all members to give a full 10 percent to the local church to be a member in good standing.  If you aren't there at your local church every time the church doors are opened, you are looked down on.  If you give part of your tithes to any church besides your own church, you are attacked.  In one instance, the Pastor told people that if they were going to give part of their tithes to a TV preacher, they can call him next time they need prayer.  The church would keep tabs on how much people gave, and of course, they could figure out your salary based on the tithe, or guess if you paid the entire tenth.  I have never dealt with a credit check, but what I described is common in my area. 

 

As far as alcohol goes, most churches in my area condemn any drinking, period.  They even claim that the wine in the Bible is grape juice.  I don't believe that, and never have, but this is very common, even in many Baptist Churches. 

[Guest LadyC]

I am happy to hear that not all churches are like the ones I described, but in most churches I have been part of, they require all members to give a full 10 percent to the local church to be a member in good standing.  If you aren't there at your local church every time the church doors are opened, you are looked down on.  If you give part of your tithes to any church besides your own church, you are attacked.  In one instance, the Pastor told people that if they were going to give part of their tithes to a TV preacher, they can call him next time they need prayer.  The church would keep tabs on how much people gave, and of course, they could figure out your salary based on the tithe, or guess if you paid the entire tenth.  I have never dealt with a credit check, but what I described is common in my area. 

 

As far as alcohol goes, most churches in my area condemn any drinking, period.  They even claim that the wine in the Bible is grape juice.  I don't believe that, and never have, but this is very common, even in many Baptist Churches. 

 

 

if you don't mind my asking, have all these churches you've been a part of belonged to the same denomination? (and if so, can you tell us which denomination that is so i make sure never to go to one?)

[Guest shiloh357]

Butero, what kind of churches are you talking about?  What types or denominations?   Do people actually submit to that kind of control?  If so, why?

[Marilyn C]

 

Sorry Marilyn, but I don't see any Churches in the US that are mainstream that are as you describe.   I have never heard anyone say that if you don't go to church you are sinning...    You are missing out on a blessing, but you are not sinning.   I think there are a lot of over-the-top blanket accusations that are extremely embellished and projected on churches.

Hi Shiloh,

 

If you take another look at my post I am referring to attitudes & conversations, & that is by individuals. And as wingnut said that attitude has been voiced here already. I was bringing attention to it so that we can see who (the enemy) is getting us to think in a certain way. And then for us to look at what God`s word says so we can focus on the encouraging & not divisiveness.

 

Marilyn.

 

Have you had time to check that out yet, Shiloh?

[Guest Butero]

The churches I have been part of were mostly full gospel churches, but many Independent Baptist churches in this area are the same way.  That is just a drop in the bucket.  I have heard ministers condemn people because they happened to get in a car with someone who had their radio tuned to a secular music station.  It is not like this is isolated.  What bothers me is not that ministers sincerely believe things are sinful and are trying to steer the congregation to the truth.  What bothers me is when I know they are using the people.  What I mean by that is making sure they give all their money to the local church so the minister can live well off the money and controlling them to where they are always there.  I know we all have different convictions and beliefs, and we need to share what God has shown us.  What I have been bothered by is the phoniness.  Ministers learn how to get people locked in to their church, and fearful to leave, feeling like to go anywhere else would be to abandon the will of God.  When I first got in church, I didn't recognize what was taking place, but over time, I began to see through it.  They know how to play on people's emotions, like that character "Elmer Gantry" did. 

 

It is not just conservative churches where this happens.  The ministers learn how to target a type of individual and build the church around them.  In some cases, it is a very "come as you are" liberal church, and in other instances, the target group is a very conservative congregation where everything is sin.  The idea is to target your audience and build your church with them.  It is not about a minister sincerely desiring to spread the truth, but it is about building a business and making merchandise of people. 

 

Shiloh, you asked why people submit to these kind of leaders?  That is simple.  They believe they are the true messengers of God, everyone else is in error, and God sent them there.  To leave is to be out of the will of God.  That church has the true message and everyone else is wrong.  We are going through debates over doctrinal differences right now at Worthy Boards.  This is not an attack, but I am just trying to show you how things work.  You are convinced OSAS is right and those who disagree are in false doctrine.  It is the same way with these churches.  The congregation is convinced the doctrine they are taught is right and everyone else is wrong.  This can be anything.  Once you convince everyone that they are in the truth and everyone who disagrees is wrong, and your minister is sent by God, and God led you to them, what are you going to do?  You stay where the truth is preached and you follow the man of God you were led to follow.  Again, this can be a very conservative individual or a very liberal individual.  I have listened to people in church growth seminars discuss this.  They teach them tricks to lock people in.  I worked closely with ministers for years, and was a Pastor myself for a few years.  I saw things that really turned me off to the church.  I am sure there are sincere ministers out there, and good churches, but I haven't been able to find one. 

[Guest LadyC]

people need to start being berean about their messengers.